Stories

volunteers

In 2014, a manager from Future Foam, a producer of high-quality materials for homes ranging from premium carpet cushions to mattress toppers and pillows, met with MOM staff and explained that the leadership of Future Foam wanted to promote volunteerism among its workforce and was anxious to get involved in volunteering at MOM. Since that meeting, Future Foam has demonstrated this commitment by being a consistent supporter of MOM.

Gail Krc has volunteered regularly at MOM since 2011, accumulating an amazing 1,700 volunteer hours in that time. As a volunteer, Gail has filled a number of different roles. In fact, here at MOM, we think there’s nothing she can’t do!

We are excited to share that MOM has nominated Maureen Berghoefer, retired MOM Seniors Program Manager, for the Cross Plains Outstanding Citizen/Volunteer of the Year. Through her work with MOM and other organizations, Maureen is an example of how one person can make a significant difference in their community.

In January, the very coldest part of winter, it’s hard to think of a time when the sun will shine and new plants—including garden veggies —will grow. But that’s a time Jacqui Sakowski, a retired small business owner, looks forward to all year round. What might be most unique about Jacqui’s gardening is what she does with what its produces: Jacqui donates it to local food pantries like MOM.

In this entry in her garden journal dated June 12, Jacqui Sakowski shares some experiences growing fresh veggies for MOM's food pantry. After retiring as a small business owner, Jacqui dived into gardening, a passion she developed when she moved to the Midwest from England years ago. Recognizing she could grow more than she could ever eat, Jacqui decided to garden with a new purpose: to provide fresh vegetables to those who struggled with hunger.

In this entry in her garden journal dated May 27, Jacqui Sakowski shares some experiences growing fresh veggies for MOM's food pantry. After retiring as a small business owner, Jacqui dived into gardening, a passion she developed when she moved to the Midwest from England years ago. Recognizing she could grow more than she could ever eat, Jacqui decided to garden with a new purpose: to provide fresh vegetables to those who struggled with hunger.

For any business, time is money. So imagine a business finding the time to allow an employee to be out of the office one afternoon each week, all year round. Standard Imaging has done just that every week for the past 382 weeks—since September of 2010. They have accumulated hundreds of hours of volunteer service. A commitment like this demonstrates to us at MOM that Standard Imaging has a work culture of volunteering and that making an impact for good in their community is one of their priorities.

Our families and individuals are up against what can seem like insurmountable odds. They will bring with them incredible courage and resilience, and we will be here to offer the help and hope needed to help them get through tough times. MOM has the privilege to distribute hope in times of darkness and in times of joy.

“As a volunteer, nothing beats walking a family through a food pantry for the first time. To me, volunteering means being the smiling face to families who are stressed. I just say, “Let’s get some food. It’s going to be alright.”

MOM had an extra busy day in its sorting area on Friday. An extra twenty volunteers filled the pantry during a normally quiet afternoon, unloading and sorting pallets upon pallets of boxes of food, thanks to two extra truck fulls of food, given to MOM by Second Harvest Food Bank.